Residents of Austin have another name to be proud of.

Sunday, July 08, 2001

Residents of Austin have another name to be proud of.

Amber Dolphin, who won the title of Miss Austin 2001 in February, recently returned from participating in the Miss Minnesota Scholarship pageant in St. Cloud June 15 and 16.

Dolphin ran for Miss Austin two years ago and was first runner-up. This year, she was awarded the title.

Her good friend Gina Cummings, Miss Austin 1998, was her inspiration.

Cummings, like Dolphin, played the violin; Dolphin thought that if her friend could win, then she had as good a chance herself.

Looking back, she’s pleased with her accomplishments.

"It’s been a great experience," Dolphin said. "When I learned about the program and the scholarship money it provides, I decided to run."

Dolphin explained that unlike Miss America, Miss Austin and Miss Minnesota are scholarship programs.

"They are talent and intelligence based," she said. "Intelligence and talent make up 60 percent, swimsuit and evening gown are both 15 percent. If you make it to the top five, you answer a question worth 10 percent."

The scholarship aspect of the program really attracted Dolphin, a sophomore music management major at Luther College in Decorah.

"Austin is ninth in the nation for scholarship funds," she said. "I received $5,000, which I won’t collect until the end of my reign. That’s what interested me most, but it was also good for speaking and performing opportunities."

For the performance aspect of the pageant, Amber played classical violin, a skill she has developed over the past 10 years.

She performed on stage July 4 and 5 during the Spamtown USA festival.

While she placed sixth in talent, she still felt it was a good experience.

"I thought I did my best there," Dolphin said. "It was more about show, maybe they don’t appreciate classical violin as much."

Dolphin’s interest in the violin surfaced in the fourth grade. Her brother, who was in second grade at the time, drew a picture of a violin.

Her parents told him he could take lessons, telling Amber she could as well.

As Dolphin said, "I loved it and stuck with it all these years."

Her platform, the subject she discussed during the intelligence portion of the pageant, was the value of music in children’s education.

Dolphin is quite passionate about this issue.

"During my reign as Miss Austin, I’ve gone to elementary schools and the prep/concert orchestra at the high school and talked to kids about getting involved and staying motivated," she said. "I tell them how they can balance and become more well-rounded."

Other duties include requests for appearances at social groups and tour groups that come from out of town.

She has played classical violin for first graders, who particularly enjoy ‘Orange Blossom Special,’ a fiddle piece. With the middle school children, she practices call and response, having them repeat a piece she plays. She motivates the older students, telling them how important it is to be there as part of a group.

Dolphin has a disciplined practice schedule, even in college. She devotes nearly two hours a day to practicing; an hour of classical violin and 45 minutes with the fiddle.

She also formed the first string-jazz quartet at Luther College and plays with their symphony/chamber orchestra and the LaCrosse Symphony.

One important thing she took away from her appearance at the Miss Minnesota pageant was learning more about herself and the points she wants to get across. Winning wasn’t her main goal.

"I didn’t want to win Miss Minnesota, being as young as I was," she said. "If I could come back with the experience, I would."

The friendships made at the pageants were also important to her.

"The people you get to meet and get to know are very important," she said. "Especially, with Miss Austin, there were only eight contestants and Miss Minnesota had 12. It’s very worthwhile."

Taylor Carlson, Miss Austin 1999, who got to know Amber during the pageant, said Dolphin has done a wonderful job as Miss Austin.

"She was an excellent candidate for Miss Austin," Carlson said. "We’re looking for someone to serve the community. From the first day, she had ideas and was willing to do everything."

Carlson is very involved in the Miss Austin Scholarship Pageant committee, helping to plan and script the event. She also created and updates the Miss Austin website (www.missaustin.com).

While competing in the Miss Minnesota Pageant, Dolphin was accompanied by Donna Lessard, a member of the Miss Austin Scholarship Pageant Committee and Dolphin’s companion.

Lessard’s main responsibility was assuring Dolphin’s safety and getting her to and from appearances on schedule.

She also acts as a friend and confidant.

"I offer solid advice when she asks for it," Lessard said. "Often it’s better when I step back and encourage her."

Lessard said she was very inspired by Amber during their week in St. Cloud.

"They were rehearsing 15-hour days, but there was never not a smile on her face," Lessard said.

She explained that the contestants are not being sent up to these pageants alone; while they are grown women, they are still in need of support.

"I’m there to get her through this," Lessard said. "You want her to feel special."

After spending so much time together during competition, it’s only natural that a bond will develop between the two.

However, Lessard does not feel that she’s taking a motherly role in any way.

"Having worked with previous Miss Austin’s, I try to stay in focus of being just Donna," she said. "I have a daughter Amber’s age and I interact with my daughter differently. There is a huge relationship that develops, and I offer my advice based on experience."

Some of Dolphin’s friends did tease her about entering a ‘beauty’ pageant.

She quickly dispelled the myth.

"Austin should be proud we have such a great program," Dolphin said. "It’s so much more than a stereotypical pageant. I want to thank them for everything everyone involved has done."

Lessard agreed, saying that everyone on the committee is an addition; no one person consumes the spotlight.

A number of awards were given to participants, including a community service award, an academic scholarship and Miss Congeniality.

On the local level, Dolphin called Miss Austin ‘a great pageant for scholarship funds.’

In a non-finalist interview, participants could receive a $500 scholarship to Riverland.

Dolphin said this strengthens the statement that Miss Austin and Miss Minnesota are more than just stereotypical beauty pageants, and that Austin should be proud.

Carlson agreed.

"I took a different direction in my life after Miss Austin," she said. "I found a voice I never knew I had."

It changed her in other ways, as well.

"There are so many ways you grow as an individual and a young woman," Carlson said. "I wouldn’t of had the courage otherwise."

Lessard has been involved with Miss Austin for as long as it’s been in existence; since the pageant was based here in Austin.

It’s an experience, she said, she’s that much better for, stating that she gets more than she gives.

"I realize that I have a new friend forever," Lessard said. "Even though I only have one daughter, it seems like I have more."

Dolphin’s friends and family supported her completely.

"My friends and family were very excited,"she said.

"It was very close at the end, kind of nerve-wracking. At the end, my friends and family came up on stage; it was a nice feeling, with everyone supporting me."

While Dolphin is disappointed that she didn’t win Miss Minnesota this year, she remains positive about future possibilities.

"I don’t know if pageant life is for me," she said, "but maybe once I’m out of college, I’ll compete for Miss Minnesota again so I can take my platform statewide."

Call Melissa Bregani at 434-2236 or e-mail her at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.